What do we have today from a hospital in Florida? >> She said that the kid was never by herself, that she left the kid with her and then with someone else. accident in New Mexico >> and I just hear them start fighting and my dad grabbed >> when she left this morning to take the kids to school. She slammed some alcohol. >> I'm going to place you in custom out the window. >> Two shocking cases, one painful wakeup call. When adults lose control, it's the children who pay the price. Welcome to Florida, where child care is handed off to a stranger because mom is busy with another kind of pleasure. She said the kid is with her. >> January 23rd, 2023. A 911 call rings out from a medical facility in Florida. An accusation that the police cannot delay. A mother suspected of leaving her young child alone for more than 30 minutes. Authorities rushed to the scene and the whistleblower, visibly tense, began recounting what they had witnessed firsthand. >> That we first we could not find where she was. We even came outside to ask a little girl what car and she said she didn't come. She came by taxi. We didn't realize mom had been sitting out on the bench. So I come over to her. I said, "Do you realize you've left her for the last 30 minutes? We don't know where you've been. You weren't in the bathroom." She had our key. And then she told me, "Hold on. I'm on the phone." And we're like, "What?" And like we just took her now. Like she does not even care that we >> Is that Is that her? >> Yeah, that's her. >> Where's um the problem is we have her. No, I asked um I called to make sure somebody could talk to her. >> No, there's nobody on here. >> Get one of the girls that has the girls. Maybe if you want to say the other girl. Is it one of your girls Spanish or no? Or if not, I have a girl that's with the little girls. She's she can speak uh Spanish. >> I can get Ariel out. >> Okay. Like she doesn't even matter that we've had her. Like I literally took her back inside to make sure that she's okay. Cuz at some point I figured what happened if this is not really her mom and they've kidnapped her, you know, to keep trafficking. I don't know. I mean, for her not to care, like even that guy was sitting there, he's like something's wrong with her. >> Where is the little girl now? >> We took her back into the office into the conference room. I said to her, "What are you doing?" She's like, "No, I'm on the phone." And I'm like, "This is your child." >> How old is the little girl? >> The little girl's like five. She does speak English. So, if you want to come up over here, she's up here. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> The woman's up there. She on the second floor. >> She's by the suite. >> I think um the woman in the blue pants is going to be a translator. Stairs. >> You go up the stairs. I'm going to take her picture. Okay. The Hispanic mother stepped out, insisting that her child hadn't been abandoned, but was left with some woman. She had no idea who that woman was, nor where she might be. Everything pointed to a possible abduction. Yet, strangely, the mother remained completely unfazed. >> Come out here. That's my mother, I think. >> And is this this isn't like somewhere where someone bring a kid, right? Like, so she's not confused right now? >> No. So she came into our office needing assistant. I said, "Hey, you need the urgent care now." So I just want she did come downstairs. She just asked for the kids. Okay. >> You want You want to >> Well, mean you have to I mean cuz what's going on? Like why why is your daughter you outside and your daughter's in the building by herself for she said that the kid was never by herself that she left the kid with her and then with someone else another lady. It's >> no. >> So, she said she knows you, but she's not your friend. She didn't even leave the kid with me. That's not who I who's left. She was left with her. >> Okay. >> But either way, like they don't work for her for her to just be a them to be babysitters. Like, that's her child and she's leaving her child with a stranger. No. Excuse me. So talk. Hang on. >> Do you speak in? >> No. She's going to talk for me. >> No. No. >> So I need Okay, I'm going to translate literally that she came because she wanted to go to the bathroom, but she couldn't get her daughter heart to remove her from the school. >> Mhm. >> And yeah, so she said she lived in South Carolina and she came to Florida two weeks ago. >> Her daughter started school today, so she stopped here because she wanted to go to the bathroom. Does she know where her daughter is at now? >> She said the kid is with her. She says that she must let the daughter. Wait, wait. Get her hand out of that. I don't know. I say John in Spanish. >> She wants to know what's going on. >> I'm sorry. The problem is she has she has no idea where her child is. The problem is tensions peaked when language became a barrier. One side was shouting and cursing non-stop while the other unable to understand a word coldly carried out their duties. She's not making any ask. She's walking. She doesn't have a car. female. >> No, not every [Laughter] >> is Deon 94. >> Yeah, I bet. Yeah. >> Okay, cuz I saw she went over there to bring her downstairs. Yeah, we'll take this one, you guys. Sorry. Oh, wiggle worm. All right, don't hit me. >> Yeah, that's what I was talking about. >> Oh, that was about It's unlocked. Sit down. yellow. >> Let me load. Let me load. >> There we go. >> No worries. Medical staff stepped in to decode the mother's rambling. The truth slowly came to light. She brought her child to the hospital for a dog bite, then disappeared for over 30 minutes, only to return high and completely out of control. >> All that dabbering was nothing. literally was not, you know, what is your advice? I know that this is crazy. I'm pregnant. I got pregnant in Ecuador. >> She's now saying that she's pregnant, but >> Well, I got a couple um Spanish speakers at the hospital. I know that. >> So, does she come in for the baby or does she come in for her? We work in the MRI department. >> She came in asking for assistance. The girl in the front desk doesn't speak English. So, hey Annie, can you help her out? So, automatically she said, "Hey, my daughter got bit." I said, "Oh, no. You need to go to the urgent care. Come on, I'll walk you over. Damn that I am decided to come today. >> She brought this girl in for a dog bite and then she went to go use the bathroom and then >> she was gone for a half hour. >> Yeah. What happened? >> She has no idea where her kids are, >> but they were with the with the nursing staff. >> Drunk as all these. >> Yeah, she's definitely her eyes are and she starts randomly laughing. >> She looked at me. She kept looking at me. >> She while we're here, she's just wandering around all >> she lost. She's on something. She'll just she'll be standing there like I'll be holding her then all of a sudden she'll just start like Joker like laughing like not even Heath Ledger Joker like Jared Leto Joker. >> Got the girl. Where's the girl at? >> She's still with the nursing staff in the nursing. >> So you're saying the girl had a dog like >> but there's no mark. There's no marks. They said >> yeah there was no puncture. >> Okay. So the phone is she says it's her mom. Someone did try to call and they were saying like where she said where the are you? Where are you right now? We need to get you so we can go. And then when I said to her well who are you? They hung up the phone before we could talk. >> That's not the child. We don't know. >> We don't know. >> We don't know that. And the little girl does state that it's her mother >> cuz the pictures you showed me, it looked like either it was a minivan or like a truck. >> Actually, you can see. >> So, and that's that minivan's been just sitting there chilling. It's got a weird green one. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> You can see what kind of >> Well, Jake, just look at the pictures cuz I think we might be able to see the color. And if it's the same guy, it's a guy, right, with a beard? >> Yeah, it's a Nissan. >> Sophia Trader. >> Is that the van? >> No, the one in the picture is a Nissan, it looks like. Oh, a strange man suddenly appeared and revealed the truth. She came to the US as an asylum seeker, fleeing an abusive, drug-addicted ex-husband in Venezuela. But somewhere along the road to freedom, she seems to have left behind both her duty as a mother and her child's most basic rights. >> She spit on you or >> Yeah, she spit on her. >> Oh, no. That's another charge. >> That is a charge. Devon's in there making pro they're making some seems like progress with like uh getting more information from the little girl about like a other name or um just like clarification on things you've already been told like where she lives and stuff. >> Yeah. Like she talking about a house >> and a computer. >> He wants to explain what's going on. >> English. He received her about 15 days ago from Georgia via Georgia. She advised him, you know, that she's coming to the States if she could come with him if he could receive her. >> Yeah. Say like receiving. What's the deal with that? >> That's what we call for like political, you know, I'm Cuban, so it's it's a Latin term. It's Hispanic. >> Mom have other children. What is she? >> How how long you friends? >> Seven Seven years. Seven years. Okay. >> That's her information. He said >> she has passport. Okay. >> Passport. >> Can you take that out? I can't I can't take it out. >> Um what he was explaining is that he received her 15 days ago to help her in the sense of that she her husband in Venezuela was doing drugs and abusing her mentally and physically. When she came here they're um in their country they're news reporters. >> So he knowing her differently over there and today are two different people. She is not stably right right now. and he says it >> it shows it's yeah >> it's a lot of issues and she does have brother and mom are in the other on on the phone in Venezuela here and mom and brother are saying also she suffers from anxiety and panic attacks >> and when she gets two and then she did advise that she smoked some coke so so they went to pick up from school he asked a friend which is a pastor if they can pick Chloe up with mom and when they went home a neighbor's dog picked the girl >> so the pastor decided to bring Chloe And mom here, he's saying a little bit irresponsibly just dropped them off and left. Mom not knowing the area. Oh my god. >> So since this morning, she hasn't been acting right. >> When he received her uh from, you know, Venezuela, was there like paperwork, you know, things like, you know, that sponsor? >> No, he's friends with her from Venezuela. They were both reporters out there, >> but the pastor that dropped them off, he's friends with him as well, >> right? her brother saying that she came here over asylum, political asylum. >> Yeah. Not amnesty. >> Not amnesty. Right. He wants to know what the next process is for DCF. >> It depends on what information >> DCF. There you go. But >> do you guys need me to stay to help with translating? I just need to know. I need to make a phone call. I got a kid probably saying, "Hey, mommy, where's my dinner?" >> I don't mind. The mother is facing multiple charges. Child, resisting arrest, and two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer after repeatedly spitting on them. Under Florida law, she could face up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $20,000 with bail set between $14,000 and $24,000. >> In the pictures, they also live at the house. >> They've only been here 15 days. These are family and friends from the Carolas where they were before. >> So, how long? So, what are you being charged for? battery on a law enforcement battery. >> Law enforcement battery arrest. >> Okay. So, how long do you think she would be in there for? Like if she didn't make >> 30 days. She doesn't make bond. >> Yeah. >> Years. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Where's the child? >> She's inside. Oh, >> okay. Yeah. I'll have to go. >> All right. >> Huh? >> Let's go check. >> Let's go check. >> Hey, Jacobson PD. We're coming in with a a female that was uh kicking and spitting and all sorts of other crazy stuff and she does not speak English. Just a heads up. She's calmed down now. Okay. All right. Vote murder run. >> Have you ever witnessed a child suffer because of an adult's reckless behavior or known someone who was once successful only to break down under the weight of life's pressures? Share your story below so we can reflect, understand, and find something valuable in what's gone by. But the tragedy in Florida wasn't the end. Just days later in New Mexico, another mother sparked public outrage. Not for abandonment, but for nearly sending all five of her children to their deaths. >> She got an argument with her boyfriend. She went to go pick up kids from a bus stop. >> She go drop them off. >> Went to go drop them off, but the kids are still in the car. She goes back home. >> January 29th, 2025. A fateful morning. Victoria, the mother of five, was accused of driving under the influence and crashing while taking her kids to school. Police rushed to the scene and there she was, a disoriented mother, mentally unstable, rambling incoherently without logic. >> There's like four kids engaged in any literally at the end of the corner, man. What the were I was >> Ma'am, can you talk to me? >> Can I talk to you now? >> Yeah, you can talk to me. cuz he was making me feel like I was dumb as comfy. Like, >> do you want to sit down? >> No, I don't. I want my kids to be okay. >> Okay, we'll get to the We'll get to that, but I'm going to talk to you first. Okay. >> Where are my kids? >> I'll go check on them. But what's your what's your last name? Make sure you're okay, too. >> I don't even know my last name. >> Do you drive this car here? No. >> Or do you know whose vehicle that is yet? >> It's my husband's. with your husband like I don't want >> Did you Can you tell me a little bit what happened this morning? How'd you end up here? >> Woke up and then I was like reversing. I was going back home. >> Where do you live? >> Right there on the back street. >> Okay. So, you just live right down the road. Okay. But your kids stay here or were your kids did Were they babysitting for you? What happened? >> I just came from the bus stop. >> The bus stop? >> What did I do wrong? >> I'm just asking you questions. That's all I'm doing. I'm just trying to figure out because we were called out. So, I'm just trying to make sure you're okay and different things like that. >> I want to take them. >> That's that's not what we're trying to do. We're just trying to get to make sure that you're fine. You're >> Did husband do anything? >> Where's your husband at? >> I was just fighting with him at home. >> So, he's at home. Is that why you left him? >> Yeah. >> Is that how this happened right here? The eye. Your cut on your eye? >> I don't even know what the honestly. What the >> Hey, >> there's somebody in my passenger seat. >> Victoria, focus on me here. Okay. >> I didn't even realize there anybody in that looked like my homie. >> Yes. Just because of a man. She recklessly gambled with her own children's lives. And to make matters worse, she spiraled into a stream of jumbled statements. My husband's car, Melody's girlfriend, and I forgot everything. >> Victoria, >> can you look in the passenger? >> Yeah, he's looking and there's nobody in there right now. So, can you come this way for me? So, you're telling me that you husband got in a fight? >> Yes. >> And did you go did you >> I left my husband. I left my husband. He's literally like around the corner. >> But where did you go when you left? >> I went to go pick up my kids from the the bus stop and we went back home. >> So, how did you end up here? >> I was around theinging corner. We literally were coming around the corner. >> You think we should call supervisor? We just can't come around the corner. Like, what the did I do? >> No, that's what we're trying to figure out. We need your side to figure that out. >> Oh my god. I'm a >> Victoria. >> Completely dis. >> Hey, Victoria, let's sit right here. >> There you go. You're Who lives here? >> Like Melody. >> Melody. Okay. And who's Melody to you? That's my home girl. >> What were you and husband arguing about today? Do you remember? >> Apparently me not being a wife. >> My camera wasn't on. >> Okay. Congratulations. >> What the floor pick up? Let's go this way. >> Okay, come on. We're going to go this way. >> Where would it help me? Walking that way and getting a filter whenever the I go that way. Is it okay if I get a step? We're trying to get her to the car right now. >> Can you show me please? Can you go to the car? Victoria, >> can we share? >> Can we please go to the car? >> I'll give you one, but we got to go. >> We have to go. >> We want a cigarette, man. Yes. Stop. >> Right now, we're just here making sure everyone's okay. All right. [Applause] >> I don't want to go by my door >> here. I'm right here. Look, we'll go this way. >> Okay. >> It doesn't matter either. >> Do you just have these lighters on you? >> I wasn't even driving right here on this street. Who the did that? >> We're about to find out what go. Yeah, >> non cell like all the other have a seat right there. >> Go to marijuana. >> Amid the chaos created by the adults, only the children's words rang true. >> Can you guys give us one second? We don't we don't need more people in the scene. >> I'm her mom. I'm I'm the grandma. >> Okay, we're going to figure it out. Just can you give us one second? We got a lot of families showing up. So, I need to talk to the kids real quick. the oldest real quick and then I'll get get them out of here. Where's the three oldest? You you guys, right? So, I got to ask you guys some quick questions. Okay. >> So, real quick, was mom arguing with dad this morning or no? >> Yes. >> Okay. Where was that at? >> In the house in the room after I came out, I went to go get water and use the bathroom. And I came back in my room to get ready and I just hear them start fighting and then my dad laughed. >> Was it between dad and stepdad or mom and stepdad or mom and actual dad? Mommy and stepdad. >> That's my car. That's my car. She's >> And she And Victoria was driving it. >> Yes. I leave it at home for them for them to take the kids to school and >> stuff. I just want to make sure. So it's your car. >> And so the family drama officially began. The stepfather stepped in as the victim of his wife's abuse. And his mother was caught in the middle. Half defended her son, half sympathized with Victoria. So who was actually right? >> So what she told me um was able to gather um that her boyfriend were fighting. She left to take the kids to the school stop. I said, "Okay, what were you driving?" She said, "My Acadia." And I said, "Okay, is it this vehicle right here?" She said, "Yeah, that's my car." So, you left home, brought kids to bus station. >> My car. Sorry. >> No, you're good. And then then what happened? And then she said, "Then I was on my way home and I was like, "Okay, how did you end up here?" And she was like I was like, "Who lives here?" And she's like, "See." And I said, "Okay, well, what were you doing here?" And she couldn't answer me. But she I mean, she told me she was driving. >> She told she admits to drive. >> Yeah. >> Okay, fair enough. I just want to make sure her statement was she got an argument with her boyfriend. She went to go pick up kids from a bus stop. >> She go drop them off. >> Went to go drop them off, but the kids are still in the car. She goes back home towards the code one. >> Yeah. >> No, I don't know. [Music] >> Sir, don't don't talk to her. >> Okay. >> I'm looking for you. Are you What's your >> Yeah, I was looking for you. We just sent a cop to your house. >> I'll talk to you away from her and away from them. Okay. >> I was looking for you. I didn't know you were the family. >> The uh insurance real quick. Is that Is that good? >> That's fine. I'll just talk to you separately. I just don't want you talking to her. She's alleging a domestic situation and you're talking to my victim. >> Okay. I was making She's my wife. So, I was making >> He is disabled and he has seizures. >> Okay. >> And he >> I just don't want him talking to my potential victim. >> But I'm just letting you know so that you know how to treat the situation. >> Treat him different. >> Not treat him different, but not cause him to have a seizure. And she's known to be abusive as well. >> Her? >> Yeah. Very. >> But she's But he's your son. >> He's my son. >> So you're directly linked to him, not her >> and her, too. She I take care of her. >> Well, where my guy just He just took off. >> He's getting you the insurance. >> Well, I sent a cop looking for him. I didn't know he was just going to show up on scene. I didn't know he knew that his lady wrecked. >> He was asleep. I called him. No. >> Okay. >> And it wasn't just him. His friend got pulled into this toxic spiral caused by the mother as well. Um, can you tell me I guess like prior to any of this what happened? >> She's just been doing this crying got over everything and I couldn't even leave the house. Couldn't do anything cuz she's been doing this and uh putting her hands on my friend earlier when he was over there. >> When you say earlier, was it like it's night? It's almost 10:00 now. >> Like 6 5 6. Yeah, this morning. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And I told her don't put your hands on him. You know what I mean? Like >> Right. So, how long were all of you guys drinking at the house or was it What was going on? >> Me and him were when she left this morning to take the kids to school. She slammed some alcohol. That's Yeah. So, my dad was saying that before she walked out the house, she grabbed some alcohol and slammed the whole bottle. I didn't even know. I was done. I took my friend home. >> Okay. So, you weren't even at the house. >> Uh-uh. >> And I got a call being blamed for all this. So, I'm like, woman's grown. Like, why? She knew what she was doing. Like, the hell I didn't force her to do nothing. I'm not doing what she does to me, pinning her down. not letting her leave the house. I don't do that. >> So, you just know that she was there when you left the house. You went and took friend home and then she >> I was I'm I'm in bed and then I get a call that she's >> But Victoria's mother insisted. They both used to fight. My grandchild saw my son being choked. Yes. She dragged the kids into it as a shield without a second thought about the trauma they might have to endure. >> Yes, ma'am. >> I just had a question. This had been going on since 7 in the morning. My question is, they both put hands on each other. >> Shouldn't he be going to jail, too? >> Where are you getting that? They both put hands on each other. >> He grabbed her by the throat and threw her. >> You witnessed this, too. >> I didn't witness it. One of my grandkids did. >> When they came up, she told me that he hit her. And the kids also said that. >> I'm going to get I'm going to talk to her myself, but she's kind of like out of it, right? >> She's not going to be able to answer you the way she >> I got to ask her. She's the victim. I have to at least give her a chance to tell me something. It's just if that was the case, the only thing that was kind of question that was kind of odd to me is that if it happened at 7:00 and it's 10:00 now, she left and then decided to go back towards the house. >> No, she didn't leave the car earlier. This happened, right? This happened since 7:00 back to the house. >> She didn't leave at 7:00 in the morning. >> I know. I'm saying you're saying it happened around 7:00. She had a chance to leave. She left and then decided to make the decision to drive drunk to go back towards her house cuz she wasn't back to her house with her five kids in the car and crash. Yes, >> that's the problem I'm having. That's why we're going to ask them both about the domestic situation. >> Yes, I'm going to be honest with you. >> It might be irrelevant if I'm going to be honest. >> She could have broke her kid's arm. She could have smashed his head. >> I get it. I understand. All I'm saying is I'm going to be honest with you. He's not going to tell you the truth. The mom's not going to tell you the truth. >> People lie to us all the time. >> The last time they called that you guys were called over there, they were both lying. So, I'm just letting you know. I'm not cool with it. I get it. She needs to pay for I mean, she has >> I'm not cool with it either. I don't condone of it, but I have to have to hear it from one of their mouth. >> I can't just take everybody. >> We try not to put kids on the stand against mommy and daddy. We try not to. We really really try not to. It's wrong. It's unethical and moral usually. Hey, mom hit dad and they have to get on the stand in front of 12, 13 people. And it just don't sound kids get pressured. They get especially as it goes to court it gets more longer. We try not to include kids at all. >> Yeah. Is it okay if I go? >> Yeah, you're good. >> Yeah. >> But however you can get out, but can we leave? We can leave. >> Yes. >> Just one question. How much did you drink? Victoria spun around like a riddle, then lightly replied, "Just one glass." She even admitted to snorting some cocaine, nearly costing the lives of her five children. >> Victoria, let me talk to you. Let me talk to you. Let me talk to I cannot be like my baby. [ __ ] >> can I talk to you, Victoria, please? Okay, let me talk to you real quick. Okay, Victoria, how much have you had to drink today? What did you use? Seriously, >> DS, I don't even know what the I was given. >> Okay. What do you think you were given? >> I don't know. I felt like I was being traded in half of my day. Like, I don't know. >> What did you drink today? >> I knew I had the importers. >> The importers. What flavor? >> It was less. >> Regularly? Okay. What did Did you have any shots or anything? Did you have any beers? I was just like I was just chilling. All I saw was my friendly importers. >> How much have you had to drink? How many importers? >> Dennis, I didn't even have like many importers. Like what the you can close the door if that's >> I'm about I'm asking you a serious question, Miss Carter. How much have you had to drink today? me today without my kids or with my kids with the ever like >> how much >> did I just remember me drinking a drink that's what I remember >> was it an importer or was it a shot or a mixture >> with a mix was I was the person that everybody was mad at at that moment >> okay did you didn't use any coke or mask or shrooms or anything today >> I honestly honestly I did do a little bit of coke Did you sniff it? You snorted it. >> I snorted it. >> Can you tell me what happened with when you guys were arguing this morning to >> he was holding me telling me please just calm down. It was literally like before I left the house. He had one arm under me and he had one arm over me. like he's sitting here telling me that I'm [ __ ] holding down. He's holding me down. I'm the one I'm not. >> All right, let me I'm going to place you in cuffs real quick. Take a seat. >> I hate going to jail. Really? This is the first time I'm going to jail. I can't have nobody like they >> Wait, this mom still had time to threaten the cops before reaching the station. >> We're leaving. I'm going to get you go pee right now. Let me Let me >> Please. Oh my god. I'm about to piss all of your >> Don't do it. Please. Okay, we're leaving. We're leaving. We're leaving. Don't be peeing. >> Can I pee out the window and you not realize you just let us? >> No. If you pee, you're going to be wearing your pee for the whole time. >> The windows open. Victoria faced charges related to DUI and child. Under New Mexico law, she could face two to 5 years in prison, fines up to $5,000, and bail ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Life can lose direction, but responsibility for your children is something you can't abandon. Hopefully, Victoria will wake up and change. If not for herself, then for the child who needs a mother who truly cares. We've just witnessed two mothers who crossed the line. One left her child with a stranger. The other nearly gambled her kids' lives for fun. But was it drugs, men, or their own choices to blame? Life is full of mistakes. But children should never have to pay the price. If you believe the truth deserves to be seen, don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you won't miss what's coming next. Let's keep exposing the dark corners people try to hide, but society can't afford to ignore. See you tomorrow. [Music]